Locals hail UPDF as ADF rebels flee bombed DRC hideouts

Locals in DRC towns have hailed UPDF for Operation Shuja carried out jointly with FADRC forces that they said has seen peace return to the areas  following years of terror by ADF rebels.

The overall Commander 'Operation Shujja' Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga, inspected troops as well as towns of Boga, Tchabi and Kainama that were dislodged from the ADF terrorists.

Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga was received by FARDC Brig Gen Kasongo Maloba- Sector Commander Irumu Province based in Bunia.  Col Ben Sserwada the UPDF Sector Two Operation Shujja Commander was also present.

Gen Muhanga also paid a courtersy call to Chief (Omwami) of Boga Tabaro Kato Kaboyo 11 and speaking in Runyakitara, Chief Kaboya 11 thanked UPDF for joining the Congo forces in the fight against the common enemy (ADF).

“Thank you for coming to rescue us from enemies of peace. My people have suffered a lot. Your bombs helped us to chess away NALU and CODECO. They took all our cows and killed our people right from Bwesi, Karongo and Kyabwohe in Rwamabale up to this point," he said.

Muhindo Didis Isaiah, the Principal Secretary to North Kivu Governor based at Kainama noted that they have had frequent attacks from ADF leading to the abandonment of homes and seeking of refuge in Tchabi Internally Displaced Peoples' camps near MONUSCO.

“North Kivu has been hit hard with the marauding ADF right from Kainama, Manzatikakuka, Kitchumba to Vindo. You saw how homesteads are bushy and abandoned. ADF comes and kills by firing and even slaughtering using machetes. The few people you are seeing around have just come back after knowing forces from Uganda were around. Last Saturday at Bulemba they killed six people who were clearing the road including two children,” he narrated.

Soki Salima 37 years, a mother of five and a resident of Budundu near Boga airfield remembers the day and time when ADF raided their village.

“It was on 23rd August 2021at around 4am when NALU speaking mixture of Nyabwishya, Kitooro and Swahili abducted all my family and the neighbours. They took us in the direction of Batonga. At a certain distance, they released us with babies and the elderly but took my 16 and 14-year-old daughters. We are happy that Ugandan soldiers have come. Please rescue my children," Salima appealed.

This appeal was also reechoed by Asiimwe Mugisa 35 years who requested UPDF to rescue her 14 year old abducted girl, Iveti Kasemire.

Kabaseke Barigye Innocent 40 years, a Catechist at Boga Anglican Church Kinyanjojo narrated how ADF showered bullets to the church and all the surrounding houses.

He said they went ahead to kill the Arch Deacon (Sabadikoni) and his grandchild.

“This was on June,7, 2021 during broad daylight. ADF entered the town firing bullets all over and burning vehicles. They specifically came for the church leaving the mosque just 500 meters away from here. These people are ruthless,"  Kabaseke observed.

On February,9, 2022, the joint advancing forces on the third approach route of Burasi to Boga captured Boga airfield from the fleeing ADF terrorists.

This was a sigh of relief for the people in Boga town who have all along faced acts of terror from ADF.

From Boga, UPDF advanced to Tchabi town up to Kainama 80kms from River Semliki Burasi landing site.

ADF rebels flee

Speaking to the troops, Gen Muhanga applauded them for the zeal and resolve exhibited in dislodging ADF terrorists from the jungles of Virunga and Ituri impenetrable forests.

He urged them to continue working as a team, share intelligence and interoperability.

“Commanders and Intelligence Officers must operate in conjunction with each other for effectiveness. Once we are united, ADF will be no more. We want to erase the common adage of the 'triangle of death' from the people’s minds," he noted.

Meanwhile the commanders informed Gen Muhanga that after ADF was dislodged from ‘triangle of death’, they fled towards the Northwest, occupying areas of Ngomuhimbo, Mapipa, Machini hills - 60kms from Boga.